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Blackmon looking to improve in second stint

Blackmon looking to improve in second stint

5/12/13: Charlie Blackmon drills a home run to center field that plates Nolan Arenado to give the Rockies a 5-0 lead in the sixth inning

By Thomas Harding
/
MLB.com |

SAN DIEGO -- Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon has a chance to erase the struggles of his first promotion to the Rockies.

Blackmon hit .240 with one home run and two RBIs during his first stint, 12 games from May 12-29 -- a stint that ended with a 2-for-10 rut in his final six games. But Blackmon has corrected his swing since being sent back to Triple-A Colorado Springs. In his last 10 games, Blackmon hit .400 (14-for-35).

"It wasn't one thing that got me going, just a little adjustment here and there -- make sure you keep your front side in, all those basic little things that sometimes you get away from," Blackmon said. "It all came together.

"When you're here, it's a litmus test. You see how things are going and prepare yourself against some really good competition. I went down, tried to make my adjustments."

The promotion earlier this year was the first time Blackmon hasn't impressed at the big league level. He had a strong early start as a rookie in 2011, but suffered a broken foot and missed the rest of the year. Last season, injuries kept him out of the big leagues until late in the season, but he hit .283 with eight doubles in 42 games.

This could represent a chance to prove he belongs. Two outfielders called up earlier, Corey Dickerson and Tyler Colvin, are hitting .179 and .162, respectively. Blackmon didn't start Monday's game against the Padres at Petco Park, however. Dickerson was in left field in place of Carlos Gonzalez, who was nursing a sprained right middle finger. Colvin played center.

Blackmon said he doesn't know what is planned for him, but he hopes being called up in San Diego is a good omen. It's where he made his Major League debut on June 7, 2011.